Job Discussion Forums

[Dee Gnarls]

So I have an MA in Special Ed (Gifted Emphasis), and a BA in English. I'm a certified Special Ed teacher in WA, and essentially have been for 12 years. The last six years I've been specifically SpEd English. I'll have my endorsement in teaching ELL come May. I taught Conversational English at a Chinese university in '96-'97.

So what does this mean? I'm not looking for an ego stroke, just want to see where I stand. I've heard international schools are the way to go, and I think I might be able to jump to a hiring fair in a few weeks, but I'm a little considered about the 2 year contract, the workload, and possibly being too removed from the general population...? I'm thinking in terms of making overseas teaching part of a longer term career...

So any advice/info/etc. would be much appreciated! Thanks!!

[spiral78]

Basically, outside of the international school scene, where you'd be likely hired to teach in your field of special Ed, if I understand correctly, your related qualifications for language teaching are the endorsement in ELL and one year of conversation teaching in China. That's actually rather on the thin side for most 'better' EFL positions, to be honest.

The approaches and methods used to teach language are quite different to those used to teach core subjects in the student's native language. You'll have just an introduction with an ELL endorsement, and conversation school experience doesn't represent much of the spectrum of actual EFL jobs out there.

I'd say that at this point you are best qualified to stick to Special Ed and aim for international schools, as I think you wouldn't be very likely to find many 'better' EFL positions with what you currently have.

[nomad soul]

If you're a US citizen, check out the Dept. of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), http://www.dodea.edu/home/.

[Glenski]

[fladude]

International schools vary quit a bit, but you should expect about the same work load as in a US public school. There will be a little less BS, if you are lucky, but you may not be. Also you don't have the protections that you do in the USA (from a legal standpoint). And some schools have more issues than others. So in other words, about like a public schools. The kids are generally better behaved, but do not expect them to be more motivated as many private school kids are rich and feel entitled. The pay is kind of random too. Most international schools pay decently but in many countries, and many schools, the pay may not be enough to save on (especially true in Latin America and some other places). That's not to say it can't pay well, it certainly can, but for every place that you can make money, there are 2 others where you can't (and certainly don't expect them to tell you that).

I don't see much of a market for special ed though. If you go through the DoD schools, they will hire special ed, but a lot of private schools don't invest heavily in it (and if they do hire someone for that job its often a local teacher). The DoD does require at least 1 year of US teaching experience though.

[ossie39]

Hello Gnarls,

I have to say that I feel your openings in special needs may be limited. Selling yourself as an English specialist who happens to have special needs as a second bow may be the thing. So that would be school teaching. For university or language school you need efl training and experience. You would be then valued as an EFL teacher, being capable of teaching the 4 skills and applied grammar and pronunciation. You would know the exams and lingo. English language and literature departments wouldn't take you because you don't have a doctorate or even a masters specialising in English. I think primary schools would look favourably upon you. An outside possibllity might be lecturing childcare at a university on a vocational course if that appealed to you. Good luck.

[Dee Gnarls]

Thank you all so much for the info. I have a lot of questions (and answers) for you, but as a matter of fact, I'm thinking I'm not gonna be up for moving away from my kids after all. So I'm kind of putting this on hold to consider for a bit. Thanks again...